Charlotte/Douglas International to Tucson International CLT → TUS
1,504 nautical miles (1,731 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 272°, about 279° magnetic at the departure end (variation 7W). At 120 knots that is 14 h 19 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 15-knot headwind), arriving about 3:24 pm MST (22:24 UTC). Right now CLT is VFR, wind from the west (260°) at 5 knots; TUS is VFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots. For planning, not a briefing: the legal preflight briefing comes from Flight Service (1-800-WX-BRIEF) or the FAA's own tools. Airlines fly this pair: 2 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.
The route the straight line, the warnings crossed, restrictions, pilot reports and the airports along the way · click a mark for its words
Green, blue, red and purple airport dots are the flying conditions reported there now (VFR, marginal VFR, IFR, low IFR); grey means no report. Red areas are SIGMETs, orange areas AIRMETs, hatched red areas temporary flight restrictions. Map tiles: OpenFreeMap, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Warnings the route crosses SIGMETs and AIRMETs whose area the line passes through or comes within 25 nm of
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the first 130 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the route from 40 to 149 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 80 to 199 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist, fog). Over the route from 110 to 279 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the route from 807 to 966 nm out.
A SIGMET warns of weather hazardous to all aircraft; an AIRMET of weather that matters to small aircraft and to flying without instruments. "From 60 to 180 nm out" is measured along the route from CLT.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 02:00–09:00 UTC · at 120 knots true airspeed
The westbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: even thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 12 forecast points nearest it (GSP, TYS, HSV, MEM, LIT, FSM, OKC, SPS, LBB, ROW, ELP, TUS). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 230° at 16 kt | +15 kt | 16 °C | 105 kt | 14 h 19 min | 3:24 pm MST (22:24 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 240° at 15 kt | +15 kt | 15 °C | 105 kt | 14 h 19 min | 3:24 pm MST (22:24 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 15 kt | +16 kt | 12 °C | 104 kt | 14 h 28 min | 3:33 pm MST (22:33 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 250° at 15 kt | +16 kt | 9 °C | 104 kt | 14 h 28 min | 3:33 pm MST (22:33 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 260° at 15 kt | +16 kt | 5 °C | 104 kt | 14 h 28 min | 3:33 pm MST (22:33 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 260° at 17 kt | +18 kt | 1 °C | 102 kt | 14 h 45 min | 3:50 pm MST (22:50 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 250° at 19 kt | +21 kt | -3 °C | 99 kt | 15 h 12 min | 4:17 pm MST (23:17 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 21 kt | +22 kt | -6 °C | 98 kt | 15 h 21 min | 4:26 pm MST (23:26 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 260° at 30 kt | +32 kt | -16 °C | 88 kt | 17 h 05 min | 6:10 pm MST (01:10 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 260° at 41 kt | +43 kt | -30 °C | 77 kt | 19 h 32 min | 8:37 pm MST (03:37 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 270° at 43 kt | +44 kt | -39 °C | 76 kt | 19 h 47 min | 8:52 pm MST (03:52 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 39 kt | +39 kt | -50 °C | 81 kt | 18 h 34 min | 7:39 pm MST (02:39 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 UTC; temperatures above 24,000 ft are below zero. Heights are above sea level; a height is left out when the forecast has no wind for it over most of the line (the ground is higher). Ground speed is the airspeed less the headwind; the time en route is for the straight line and ignores climb, descent and routing around weather.
The forecast points as issued
| Point | From | 3,000 | 6,000 | 9,000 | 12,000 | 18,000 | 24,000 | 30,000 | 34,000 | 39,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GSP | used from 0 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 320/22 | 340/19 13° | 320/18 8° | 310/24 5° | 300/34 -7° | 300/36 -18° | 290/30 -33° | 300/32 -39° | 320/42 -49° |
| TYS | used from 100 nm out; 42 nm from the line | 320/20 | 340/18 11° | 340/32 9° | 340/36 4° | 330/37 -7° | 330/38 -19° | 330/50 -34° | 330/53 -38° | 330/44 -48° |
| HSV | used from 199 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 310/20 | 330/20 16° | 320/27 11° | 340/23 5° | 320/23 -7° | 340/30 -17° | 320/50 -33° | 330/61 -41° | 340/41 -50° |
| MEM | used from 349 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 230/19 | 260/16 15° | 270/17 12° | 300/13 6° | 300/15 -5° | 300/26 -18° | 300/34 -32° | 300/41 -40° | 310/46 -52° |
| LIT | used from 498 nm out; 34 nm from the line | 220/21 | 230/17 16° | 250/24 12° | 260/15 7° | 260/13 -5° | 280/25 -16° | 290/35 -30° | 300/42 -40° | 300/40 -52° |
| FSM | used from 598 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 210/27 | 250/23 16° | 250/20 13° | 240/17 8° | 250/18 -6° | 260/31 -16° | 280/42 -30° | 280/44 -40° | 290/38 -51° |
| OKC | used from 747 nm out; 70 nm from the line | 200/44 | 230/32 18° | 240/13 15° | 240/10 9° | 240/20 -5° | 250/27 -16° | 260/47 -28° | 270/48 -39° | 270/45 -50° |
| SPS | used from 797 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 200/39 | 220/28 17° | 230/27 12° | 240/15 9° | 250/15 -4° | 250/24 -15° | 260/45 -28° | 270/43 -39° | 280/45 -51° |
| LBB | used from 946 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 200/36 18° | 220/19 15° | 240/20 8° | 230/24 -4° | 240/37 -16° | 250/57 -28° | 250/51 -38° | 270/47 -50° | |
| ROW | used from 1096 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 190/33 | 210/27 14° | 220/28 6° | 230/36 -6° | 230/56 -15° | 230/63 -27° | 250/59 -37° | 260/57 -49° | |
| ELP | used from 1245 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 290/17 | 210/11 13° | 200/18 5° | 220/46 -6° | 230/64 -14° | 230/63 -27° | 240/55 -37° | 240/44 -48° | |
| TUS | used from 1395 nm out; 85 nm from the line | 210/13 13° | 200/35 9° | 210/40 5° | 220/50 -7° | 220/59 -18° | 230/79 -26° | 230/84 -35° | 230/84 -48° |
The weather now: both ends and the airports along the way public airports with a weather report within 25 nm of the line, one for each stretch
| Airport | Where | Conditions | Wind | Visibility | Ceiling | Elevation | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLT Charlotte, NC | departure | VFR | from the west (260°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 747 ft | 3:52 am EDT (07:52 UTC) |
| AVL Asheville, NC | 80 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the north (360°) at 8 knots, gusting to 15 | 10+ mi | none | 2,163 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| CHA Chattanooga, TN | 209 nm out, 12 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Weather: light rain | calm | 10+ mi | none | 682 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| MEM Memphis, TN | 438 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 340 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| LIT Little Rock, AR | 558 nm out, 13 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 266 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| AQR Atoka, OK | 747 nm out, 12 nm south of the line | no report just now | 590 ft | ||||
| ADM Ardmore, OK | 797 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line, tower | reported, no category | from the south (170°) at 4 knots | none | 776 ft | 07:55 UTC | |
| LBB Lubbock, TX | 1036 nm out, 12 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 13 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | none | 3,282 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| ROW Roswell, NM | 1176 nm out, 8 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,671 ft | 07:51 UTC |
| SRR Ruidoso, NM | 1215 nm out, 13 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,813 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| SVC Silver City, NM | 1355 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 9,000 feet | from the west-northwest (300°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,445 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| TUS Tucson, AZ | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,800 feet, overcast at 6,500 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | 6,500 ft | 2,643 ft | 12:53 am MST (07:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,813 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At TUS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:24 pm MST (22:24 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for TUS
- From Sun 11:00 pm MST (06:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 8,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 am MST (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am MST (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm MST (03:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet
The forecast for CLT, the departure
- From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8722 ALAMOGORDO, NM, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local on the route, 1225 nm along the route · security · starts tomorrow · ZAB
Daylight
Sunset at CLT 6:52 pm EDT (22:52 UTC), at TUS 5:53 pm MST (00:53 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:18 pm MST (01:18 UTC)).
Each restriction opens the FAA's own page with the exact area, heights and times. Ordinary notices to air missions (closed runways, lights out) are not shown: the FAA's notice search is not open to sites like this one at this time.
Radar and forecast charts for the regions crossed government pictures, the latest each time the page loads
Sources: the Aviation Weather Center's data service (SIGMETs, AIRMETs, graphical AIRMETs, pilot reports, winds and temperatures aloft, observations and terminal forecasts), the National Weather Service radar, the Weather Prediction Center's charts, the FAA's temporary flight restriction list and shapes, and the FAA's airport file for the positions, elevations and magnetic variation. Fetched when the page is viewed and kept a few minutes. Each leg is the straight line between its two airports; airways, terrain and airspace are not considered. The airports in detail: Charlotte/Douglas International, Tucson International.